Portland Parks & Recreation is set to eliminate or significantly reduce most tree permit fees starting in July in an initiative aimed at improving public sentiment about the city’s tree code and its Urban Forestry staff.
This fee overhaul is made possible by $400,000 in funding from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, which is supported by a 1% tax on large retailers within the city.
The funding will compensate for the anticipated loss in permit fee revenues, allowing the Urban Forestry to maintain its essential tree code compliance program.
Homeowners have voiced their concerns for years, indicating that existing permit fees were prohibitively high, thereby deterring tree care and planting—especially among lower-income residents of Portland.
Urban Forestry officials emphasize that the aim of eliminating permit fees is to alleviate this financial strain while still ensuring that tree removals are conducted thoughtfully and in compliance with regulations.
It is crucial that any approved tree removals are closely followed by the planting of new trees, to preserve the city’s overall tree canopy.
Unfortunately, Portland has faced a decline in its tree canopy in recent years, a trend attributed to both housing development and extreme weather conditions.
While the requirement for permits will remain in place, property owners will see a major financial relief as fees will be waived in most scenarios related to tree management.
Starting next month, residents will no longer be required to pay a permit fee for various tree-related activities, including tree removal and replanting, street tree pruning, and the application of chemicals, as well as administrative reviews and appeals.
Additionally, there will be no fees associated with permits for attaching objects such as cables to street trees or for installing ornamental lighting on these trees.
The fees for replanting waiver applications will also decrease from $100 to $50.
However, civil penalties and restoration fines for serious violations of the tree removal or pruning regulations will remain unchanged.
“We heard you. Permit fees have been a burden for many,” said City Forester Jenn Cairo in a statement regarding the changes.
“With this new funding, we can remove those costs, making it easier for people to protect trees, improve safety, and contribute to a greener, healthier Portland.”
In response to numerous public complaints regarding perceived excessive, uneven, and inflexible enforcement of the tree code, the city has also announced plans to revise this code—known as Title 11—early next year.
Moreover, the city intends to take on the maintenance of street trees and some trees located on private property in the coming years, again facilitated by funding from the clean energy fund.
Portland’s current code mandates that property owners obtain a permit to cut trees larger than 12 inches in diameter on their land, as well as maintain trees along public rights of way situated between the sidewalk and curb in front of their homes.
Homeowners must also secure permits for pruning, planting, or removing street trees, and are required to pay for and plant a replacement tree for each tree that is removed.
For further information on tree permit requirements in Portland, residents can visit portland.gov/trees or contact (503) 823-TREE.
image source from：https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2025/06/portland-eliminates-most-fees-under-maligned-portland-tree-code-starting-in-july.html
